It was injured and brooding. Saved a swan full of hooks on its wing

05 May 2025

The report, made by a yachtsman to the WWF, arrived early yesterday afternoon. A swan in distress was reported, making its way with difficulty to the nest created among some reeds on the Brescia side of Lake Garda.
The WWF staff immediately took action to try to locate the injured royal swan, requesting support on land from the provincial police and, via the lake, from the Coast Guard.

Spotted
After a careful reconnaissance of the coastline, the injured bird was spotted
united forces, while, in obvious distress from its stuck hooks, it was hatching five eggs among the reeds.
At the sight of the men, the swan wandered off towards the open sea, but was caught up by the WWF's Zanollo operator, who carefully and professionally retrieved it and placed it in a special tank, which was then taken aboard the Coast Guard's GC B135.
In the meantime, another WWF operator and an agent from the Brescia provincial police had boarded the boat to assist in the removal of several fishing hooks stuck in the swan's right wing, which was unable to move either the wing or a leg.

Hook removal operation
After the delicate hook removal operation, the royal swan, once medicated and having ascertained that it had regained normal mobility of its wing and leg, was released near its nest, to which it immediately headed to continue hatching its eggs.
Thanks to the synergy between WWF, the provincial police and the Coast Guard, it was therefore possible to save the mother swan, whose survival was at great risk.
The WWF therefore repeats its appeal: if you notice any animals in danger or injured, it is essential to report their location to the competent bodies, such as the provincial police and the WWF, so that they can be reached and assisted. As was fortunately the case yesterday, in order to ensure the survival and protection of animals in distress and also, as in this case, that of their offspring.


Read the full article in the Arena of 05 May